As the years passed, I grew increasingly despondent. My body began to creak under the strain – my knees and feet reminding me daily of the toll. As I wrote in Sandra’s book, The Weight’s Over: Take Back Control,  my son got married two years ago. I desperately wanted to lose weight for the wedding.

I gave it everything I could muster – from Facebook programmes to the NHS and Noom – but nothing worked. Standing in those wedding photos, I felt utterly miserable about how I looked. By last summer, I was wearing size 24 clothes just to feel comfortable. That hit me hard.

Turning seventy in August should have been a joyous occasion, but when my daughter arranged a family photoshoot at a castle, I could barely look at the pictures. All I could see was my unhappiness staring back at me.

Then, something changed. I came across an ad on Facebook. Sandra’s programme sounded almost too good to be true, but I thought to myself, “What have I got to lose?” I had spent far more than that on clothes and diets that never worked. This felt like a last-ditch effort to reclaim myself.

I followed everything, listening to the videos and the pod. I’ll never forget that first night. Somehow, it shifted something in me. The next morning, for the first time in decades, I woke up without wanting to eat breakfast. It was like rediscovering a part of me I’d lost – my hunger signals, my sense of control.

My eating habits transformed almost overnight. I used to eat constantly – breakfast, snacks, lunch, more snacks, dinner, and then an evening treat – yet I was rarely ever truly hungry. Suddenly, I didn’t feel that compulsion.

Now, I eat when I’m hungry and stop when I’m satisfied. That simple change felt revolutionary.

By this summer, my clothes were too big. I’ve gone down to a size 18, and I can’t describe how incredible that feels. My ultimate goal is to be a size 16 – something that once felt completely unattainable. I’m not there yet, but I’m okay with that. For the first time, I’m not worrying about when it will happen. I know it will, in its own time.

Since October 1st, 2023, I haven’t snacked. At first, I didn’t tell anyone because past failures made me wary. I didn’t want to jinx it. But as the weeks turned into months, people started noticing. My daughter, who also struggles with her weight, finally said, “Mum, you’ve really lost weight.” That meant the world to me.

I’ve even thrown out my scales. They symbolised years of shame and self-judgment, and letting them go was liberating.

I look back at my experiences with slimming clubs, especially my last attempt at Slimming World. Week after week, I’d either lose a pound or gain half a pound. It was soul-destroying. The humiliation of stepping on those scales in front of everyone pushed my mental health to the edge. I knew I could never go back, no matter how many friends urged me to try again.

Now, I live differently. Yesterday, I went out for brunch with my new grandchild – waffles with fruit and maple syrup. I enjoyed every bite and didn’t feel the need to eat again until dinner. I’m vegetarian and eat a little fish, so I’ve always been conscious of what I consume.

My problem was never a lack of knowledge – it was simply eating too much. Learning to listen to my body and serve myself smaller portions has been a game-changer.

I was raised to clear my plate, and old habits die hard, but giving myself less to start with makes it easier. Snacking used to be my biggest downfall. Crisps were my weakness, but now, they sit untouched in the cupboard. The desire just isn’t there anymore. If I want something sweet, like a biscuit, I can have it without guilt – but most of the time, I don’t even feel the urge.

I remember volunteering at a café where we joked about dunking biscuits in tea. I had four and felt so sick afterward. It was a turning point. Even chocolate, which I once adored, doesn’t hold the same appeal. The thoughts still come, but they pass just as quickly. It’s not an effort – it feels natural.

It’s hard to explain the changes, but they’ve transformed my life, which is why I was thrilled to be asked to tell my story in The Weight’s Over: Take Back Control.. I wake up each day and food isn’t the first thing on my mind. If I’m volunteering at the café, it might be well into the afternoon before I have my first meal.

And when I do eat, I choose smaller portions – not out of restriction, but because that’s what feels right. Even my tastes have shifted. I used to love cappuccinos, but now they seem sickly. A simple cup of tea is enough.

Nine months on, I’m still here. Still in control. It’s incredible. My confidence has started to return – not the kind you put on for others, but the real, inner kind.

For so long, I masked my insecurities with a brave face. Now, I don’t have to. I feel okay. Truly okay. A size 18 might not sound like much to some, but to me, it’s everything. And I know I’ll reach size 16. I have no doubt about that.

The other day, my daughter pulled me aside and told me she’d signed up for the free trial of Slimpod. It warmed my heart. She’s seen the changes in me and wants that for herself. Everyone’s journey is different, but if my experience can inspire someone else, that’s more than I could have hoped for.

I can’t imagine going to bed without my Slimpod now. Those ten minutes are like a promise I make to myself each night. I used to struggle with self-belief, but now, I know I can do this. My relationship with food has completely changed. I still love good food – I always have – but now, I savour it rather than letting it control me.

As I stand here today, I feel like I’ve reclaimed a piece of myself that I thought was gone forever. I’m no longer weighed down by constant worry about how I look or what people think. I feel free. And for the first time in decades, I feel great. Truly great. It’s more than I could have ever asked for, and I’ll always be grateful for that.